Julian Kerr | Sydney

The Spanish Armada will almost certainly deploy its newest Alvaro de Bazan class F-100 frigate to Australia for four months in early 2017 to support introduction-into-service training for the RAN’s first air warfare destroyer (AWD), NUSHIP Hobart, ADM has learnt.

The 6,041 tonne Cristóbal Colón is expected to arrive in Sydney in late February and depart around 20 June.

Captain Raymond Leggatt, Australia’s Madrid-based Defence Attaché for Southern Europe, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering the Cristóbal Colón’s deployment was in the final stages of draft. Its content draws on the agreement that governed the nine-month deployment to Australia in 2013 of the Spanish Armada’s fleet tanker Cantabria.

"Between 30 to 40 of Hobart’s crew would be aboard the Spanish ship at any one time."

CAPT Leggatt  said the Cristóbal Colón’s proposed activities were intended to derisk the introduction of Hobart, primarily through the RAN crew familiarising itself with the layout, shared systems and operation of the Spanish ship.

NUSHIP Hobart is expected to begin sea trials later this year and be formally delivered to the RAN in June 2017, two years behind schedule.

Although the three Hobart-class AWDs are based on the Navantia-designed F-100 frigates, the Cristóbal Colón, delivered in October 2012 and designated F-105 as the fifth and final ship of the class, uniquely incorporates a number of enhancements that are included in the configuration of the Australian AWDs.

Between 30 to 40 of Hobart’s crew would be aboard the Spanish ship at any one time during its proposed Australian deployment, and a smaller number would sail with the ship on its transit to Sydney, CAPT Leggatt disclosed.

While the focus would be on crew training, “there’s a whole range of other aspects that we’ll be able to take advantage of in terms of integrating the AWDs with other ships including our two Canberra class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) and developing tactics and procedures,” he noted.

Note: This article originally appeared in ADM's Defence Week Premium newsletter No.395 dated 5th May 2016.